Blogging & Writing

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

~ Steve JobsÃ¯Â»Â¿

When I read an article on CNN about Steve Jobs tonight, I found this quote….immediately, I knew I had to share it. It really spoke to me. We lost a creative mind tonight, and even more sad is the fact that a family is mourning the loss of husband and father. Steve’s legacy will forever live on. I heard him compared to great innovators like Thomas Edison and Walt Disney. It’s true….his work was phenomenal, and he was a great, creative mind. But what stands out even more to me is that he was happy in his life’s work, and he seemed to be very content.

Not that I can even begin to compare my work to that of the founder of Apple….but the quote above is how I feel about blogging and work in social media. When I started a personal blog 3 years ago, I never dreamed the avenues it would take me down and the opportunities that would present themselves. I never dreamed how far and wide my words could reach….and how many awesome friends and acquaintances I would make in the process, not to mention the sense of community it would bring.

I also never dreamed that blogging would lead to opportunities to work from home, not only being able to stay home with my kids (who are my whole world, along with my Dan, of course)….but also loving what I do with all my heart, soul, and being.

I have to agree with the above quote by Steve. You will know when you find it. Maybe the work that you do stems from blogging or social media….maybe it stems from being a stay at home mom or stay at home dad….maybe you are a teacher or a missionary. If it adds joy to your life, a spring to your step, and motivation to keep pushing forward….press on.

The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do

~ Steve Jobs

Our final The UPS Store Blogher session with Debba, from Girlfriendology, was last week; can you believe Blogher is this week already?! Oh my goodness, I am so excited!!!

We discussed many things throughout these sessions, but this session was particularly important because it involved last minute details that are very important. Printing materials is one thing, but shipping materials is also an option that you might not have thought of. Especially if you’re flying, this helps to take one less burden literally off your back.

If you haven’t printed your materials yet, don’t despair. There is still time. In fact, you can actually upload your designs to The UPS Store, and have them printed and ready for you in San Diego. Debba even suggests printing Thank You Cards to mail to memorable bloggers and brands that you meet….that would definitely help to make an impression. If you want to upload and send your designs to The UPS Store Marriott or Hilton, go to this link to do so. Of course, you can also email your design to either location: store6200@theupsstore.com (Marriott) or store6100@theupsstore.com (Hilton). If you’d rather print when you get there, just bring your designs on a flash drive, CD, etc.

Discount Alert! This week, Blogher attendees will receive discounted pricing on color and black/white printing at The UPS Store! Here are prices:

Printing / Copies
$0.08 per side Ã¢â‚¬â€œ black & white (8.5×11 and 8.5×14)
$0.16 per side Ã¢â‚¬â€œ black & white (11×17)
$0.39 per side Ã¢â‚¬â€œ color (8.5×11 and 8.5×14)
$0.98 per side Ã¢â‚¬â€œ color (11×17)
Color wide-format signage printing available – Glossy print and/or mounting to foamcore (call for pricing)
Binding & Laminating
(Call for pricing)
Computer Usage
$6.95 access fee. $0.59 per additional minute.

Now if your materials are ready to go, you can ship them to the hotel or The UPS Store. You’ll want to allow 4-5 days for your stuff to arrive. Note that there are package and handling fees. Of course, you may also want to ship some of that swag back from Blogher, using The UPS Store’s services. Check out my shipping experience!

Finally, what should you pack for Blogher? Wow, this is a huge question that a lot of bloggers have been asking. Here is a basic list of what you’ll need to bring:

Business cards and materials
Your Schedule- I’m actually using Google Calendar on my phone; it’s nice because it sends out alerts, so I don’t miss anything hopefully.
Band-Aids because you never know when you might get a blister, especially being on your feet all day.
Comfortable Shoes- Need I say more?
Layers- You may get chilly, or you may get hot. Just bring a lightweight jacket or sweater for comfort.
Mints/Gum- This is definitely a good idea….you could even attach a mint somehow to your business card.
Pen & Paper or iPad/Tablet- You’ll definitely want something to take notes during sessions or even when you meet a memorable brand or have an important appointment. This is a must have item.
Presentable pajamas, especially if you have a roommate. Of course, earplugs may be necessary, as well. You may even want to get your roommate a small token of appreciation.
Camera/Video- This is probably one of the most important items to bring, as you’ll want to take lots of pics/video, so you can share later.
Phone & Charger, Laptop cord/battery, power strip- Definitely bring an extra charger for your phone, maybe one that can be carried in your purse to charge your phone without having to plug into the wall because you mayÃ‚Â not have time to stop and plug in.
Beauty Supplies and Accessories, party outfits, etc.
Leave room for Swag!
One more thing I might add, which is pretty much a given….photo I.D. or a passport, and of course, your Blogher badge if you received it in the mail before you left. Also, bring some extra cash. San Diego is a beautiful city that you may want to take some time to explore while there.

Woohoo! The UPS Store #Print4Blogher party is this week! I’m so excited to meet up with fellow bloggers and meet the employees at The UPS Store! Be sure to hop on over to the other #Print4Blogher bloggers, and read what they have to say about printing, shipping, & packingÃ¢â‚¬Â¦.you can learn right along with us.

Amy Lowe Ã¢â‚¬â€œ http://www.dealusional.com

Shelby Barone Ã¢â‚¬â€œ http://www.feltstories.com

Sara Blake- http://www.supersavingsense.com/

Wendy Limauge Ã¢â‚¬â€œ http://sweetiessweeps.com/

Amidst the planning and prepping, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re also hosting weekly live sessions, which anyone can attend. Be sure to follow the hashtag #Print4Blogher on Twitter, so you can join in. You can also find the weekly sessions on Lovin Logistics.

(Disclosure: Thank you to Collective Bias and The UPS Store for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the #Print4Blogher campaign. I am receiving compensation for participating in this campaign, but all thoughts, opinions, and decisions above are mine and solely mine. The decisions expressed here have been given careful consideration by yours truly and only me.)